r>  ■/ 


STATISTICAL  HISTORY 

OF 

BENEVOLENT  CONTEIBUTIONS 


IN  THE 

PAST  SIXTEEN  YEARS. 


Are  Foreign  and  Home  Missions  advancing  in  this  country  ? 

Some  have  supposed,  that  the  receipts  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  have  been  stationary,  the  past 
ten  years.  Has  it  been  so,  on  the  whole  ? 

The  Missionary  Spirit  first  put  itself  forth  effectively  in  Foreign 
Missions,  and  the  tide  of  contributions  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  flow 
chiefly  in  that  direction.  Do  our  Home  Missions  now  receive  a  fair 
proportionate  support? 

These,  with  other  kindred  inquiries,  can  be  answered  only  by  means 
of  statistical  investigations.  To  furnish  the  facts  for  a  full  and  per¬ 
fect  reply  to  the  third  of  the  above  inquiries,  would  require  the 
investigation  to  be  pushed  farther  than  comports  with  our  time,  if  not 
with  our  sources  of  information.  Such  an  extended  inquiry,  however? 
is  not  needful  to  the  object  we  have  in  view,  as  will  appear  in  the 
sequel. 

It  is  not  an  easy  matter,  in  respect  to  all  the  Societies  that  are  to 
pass  under  review,  to  say  precisely  what  have  been  their  annual 
receipts  during  every  one  of  the  past  sixteen  or  twenty  years ;  nor  is 
it  quite  possible  to  say,  in  respect  to  some  of  them,  what  portion  of 


4 


their  outlay  is  properly  chargeable  to  foreign  objects,  and  what  to 
home  objects.  Where  there  was  no  way  but  to  conjecture,  we  have 
done  the  best  we  could.  In  stating  the  receipts  of  one  of  the  Soci¬ 
eties,  it  has  been  necessary,  for  obvious  reasons,  to  deduct  the  grants 
of  our  National  Government  and  of  Bible  and  Tract  Societies.  In  one 
instance  we  found,  that  the  table  we  had  compiled  from  the  treasurer’s 
accounts  did  not,  for  some  reason,  correspond  exactly  with  a  list  of 
receipts  for  a  course  of  years  we  subsequently  found  in  the  body  of 
one  of  the  Annual  Reports.  It  seemed  proper  to  correct  our  table 
by  the  Report. 

It  may  perhaps  be  possible  to  detect  not  a  few  errors  in  the 
tables ;  though  not  enough,  it  is  believed,  even  in  the  aggregate, 
to  affect  the  value  of  the  results.  There  may  be  errors  of  judgment, 
in  determining  what  were  the  actual  receipts  to  be  reckoned  in  such 
an  investigation  ;  errors  in  the  transfer  of  numbers  to  paper  ;  errors 
in  copying  ;  errors  in  the  arithmetical  calculations  ;  and  some  errors 
in  the  press.  The  author  of  these  tables  could  not  give  himself 
exclusively  to  the  business,  except  in  numerous  short  portions  of  time. 
They  were  a  small  part  of  his  share  in  the  laborious  preparation 
incumbent  on  the  Secretaries  of  the  Board  for  the  Annual  Meeting. 
Should  others  be  incited  to  revise  these  tables,  and  do  the  work  more 
effectively,  he  will  still  feel  that  his  labor  has  not  been  in  vain. 

The  object  of  the  investigation — what  in  fact  impelled  to  it — not 
only  did  not  require  that  contributions  from  Religious  Denominations 
with  which  the  American  Board  has  no  immediate  connection,  should 
be  reckoned,  but  it  required  that  they  should  not  be  reckoned.  The 
object  was,  to  ascertain  wherefore  the  receipts  of  the  Board  have 
increased  no  faster  during  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years,  and  what  is  the 
prospect  in  future.  The  careful  and  reflecting  observer  will  be  able 
to  see  that,  whatever  the  retarding  influences  were,  they  are  not 
such  as  bear  unfavorably  on  the  present  prospects  of  Missions,  whether 
Foreign  or  Domestic. 


FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

I.  Receipts  of  the  Hoard. 

The  roccii>ts  of  each  year  are  g-iven ;  the  receipts  in  eacli  period  of  four  years  j  the  increase  in 
those  periods  respectively ;  the  average  annual  receipts  for  each  of  the  periods  ;  and  the  increase 
(decrease  in  one  instance)  in  the  average  annual  receipts  of  each  period. 


Years.  Periods.  Receipts.  Periods  of  4  years.  Increase.  Av.  Ann.  Receipts.  Increase. 

1811,  $999  52 


13,611  50 
11,361  18 
12,265  56 
9,493  89 

1. - 

12,501  03 

29.948  63 
34,727  72 
37,520  63 

2. - 

39.949  45 
46,354  95 
60,087  87 
55,758  94 

3.  - — 

47,483  58 
55,716  18 
61,616  25 
88,341  89 

4.  - - 

102,009  64 
106,928  26 
83,019  37 
100,934  09 

5.  - 

130,574  12 
145,847  77 
152,386  10 
163,340  19 

6.  - - 

176,232  15 
252,076  55 
236,170  98 
244,169  82 

7.  - 

241,691  04 
235,189  30 
318,396  53 
244,254  43 

8.  - 

236,394  37 
255,112  96 
262,073  55 
211,402  76 

9. - 

254,056  46 
291,705  27 
251,862  28 
274,902  21 
10. - 

1852,  301,732  70 

1853,  314,922  88 


$46,732  13 


114,698  01  67,966 


202,151  21  87,413 


253,157  90  51,006 


392,891  36  39,734 


592,148  18  199,257 


908,649  50  316,501 


1,039,531  30  130,882 


964,983  64  ^74,547 


1,072,526  22  107,543 


11,683  10,684 


28,674  16,991 


50,537  21,863 


63,289  12,752 


98,222  34,933 


148,037  49,815 


227,162  79,125 


259,882  32,720 


241,245  *^18,637 


268,131  26,886 


1812, 

1813, 

1814, 

1815, 

1816, 

1817, 

1818, 

1819, 

1820, 
1821, 
1822, 

1823, 

1824, 

1825, 

1826, 

1827, 

1828, 

1829, 

1830, 

1831, 

1832, 

1833, 

1834, 

1835, 

1836, 

1837, 

1838, 

1839, 

1840, 

1841, 

1842, 

1843, 

1844, 

1845, 

1846, 

1847, 

1848, 

1849, 

1850, 

1851, 


*  Less  than  in  the  preceding  period. 


6 


« 


II.  Expenditures  of  the  Board. 


Tear. 

Periods. 

Expenditures. 

Periods. 

Increase. 

Av.  Ann.  Expenditure. 

Increase. 

1811, 

1812, 

$9,699 

1813, 

8,611 

1814, 

7,078 

1815, 

5,027 

1. 

$30,415 

7,603 

1816, 

15,934 

1817, 

20,485 

1818, 

36,346 

1819, 

40,337 

2. 

113,102 

82,687 

28,275 

20,672 

1820, 

57,621 

1821, 

46,771 

1822, 

60,474 

1823, 

66,380 

3. 

231,246 

118,144 

57,811 

29,536 

1824, 

54,157 

1825, 

41,469 

1826, 

59,012 

1827, 

103,430 

4. 

258,068 

26,822 

64,517 

6,706 

1828, 

107,676 

1829, 

92,533 

1830, 

84,798 

1831, 

98,313 

5. 

383,320 

125,252 

95,830 

31,313 

1832, 

120,954 

1833, 

149,906 

1834, 

159,779 

1835, 

163,254 

6. 

593,893 

210,573 

148,473 

117,160 

1836, 

210,407 

1837, 

254,589 

1838, 

230,642 

1839, 

227,491 

7. 

923,129 

329,236 

230,782 

82,309 

1840, 

246,601 

1841, 

268,914 

1842, 

261,147 

1843, 

256,687 

8. 

1,033,349 

110,220 

258,337 

27,555 

1844, 

244,371 

1845, 

216,817 

1846, 

257,605 

1847, 

264,783 

9. 

983,576 

M9,773 

245,894 

*12,443 

1848, 

282,330 

1849, 

263,418 

1850, 

254,329 

1851, 

284,830 

10. 

1,084,907 

101,331 

271,256 

25,362 

1852, 

257,727 

1853, 

310,607 

*  Less  than  in  the  preceding  period. 


7 


111.  Comparative  View  of  the  BoareVs  Receipts  and  Expenditures. 


PorioiU. 

Iteceip(t). 

Expondiluros. 

Excchs. 

1811, 

$DD9 

^=999 

1812—15, 

4(5,732 

30,415 

#16,317 

ISK)— ID, 

114,(598 

113,102 

*1,596 

1820— 2;i, 

202,151 

231,246 

29,095 

1824—27, 

253,157 

258,068 

4,911 

1828— ai. 

392,891 

383,320 

*9,571 

18a2— a5. 

592,148 

593,893 

1,745 

18a()-3D, 

908,(549 

923,129 

14,480 

1840—43, 

1,039,531 

1,033,349 

*6,182 

1844—47, 

9(54,983 

983,576 

18,593 

1848— 51, 

1,072,526 

1,084,907 

12,381 

Total, 

$5,588,465 

$5,635,005 

$81,205 

*  Excess  of  Receipts, 

•  •  •  • 

34,655 

Excess  of  Expenditures 

in  forty  years,  . 

.  $46,540 

IV.  Receipts  of  the  Board  from  Massachusetts ,  Conneeticut,  and  New 
Yorlcy  derived  from  the  supplementary  statement  to  the  Treasurer' s 
Accounts. 


(Only  what  came  through  Auxiliaries.) 


Year. 

1832, 

Massachusetts. 

$26,007 

Connecticut. 

16,930 

New  York, 

18,255 

1833, 

25,487 

17,203 

25,844 

1834, 

28,511 

17,398 

22,388 

1835, 

28,685 

17,509 

24,559 

1836, 

28,154 

19,445 

24,983 

1837, 

37,541 

28,119 

37,385 

1838, 

38,213 

38,526 

30,610 

1839, 

33,113 

31,730 

32,969 

1840, 

53,847 

34,724 

28,613 

1841, 

53,838 

33,359 

32,298 

1842, 

71,106 

42,806 

35,812 

1843, 

59,546 

35,076 

30,874 

1844, 

59,854 

30,504 

28,354 

1845, 

64,635 

33,227 

29,555 

1846, 

52,548 

29,379 

22,493 

1847, 

52,421 

27,370 

27,596 

(The  whole  amount  of  donations.) 


1848, 

71,459 

39,488 

*53,703 

1849, 

91,874 

42,294 

70,534 

1850, 

76,069 

39,630 

50,569 

1851, 

77,280 

38,534 

60,800 

8 


SUMMARY. 


Periods. 

Massachusetts. 

Connecticut. 

New  York. 

1832—35, 

$108,690 

69,040 

91,036 

1836-39, 

137,021 

117,920 

125,947 

1840—43, 

238,347 

145,965 

127,527 

1844—47, 

269,458 

121,480 

107,998 

1848—51, 

316,682 

159,946 

^235,606 

Total, 

1,070,198 

Increase. 

614,351 

688,114 

Period  2d, 

$28,331 

48,880 

34,911 

«  3d, 

101,326 

31,111 

28,045 

1,580 

“  m. 

124,485 

tl9,529 

«  5th, 

47,224 

38,466 

*127,608 

*  A  considerable  portion  of  the  receipts  from  New  York  State  do  not  come  through  Auxiliaries, 
f  Less  than  in  the  preceding  period. 


V.  Receipts  of  the  Board  from  the  Western  States^  in  each  of  the 

last  four  years. 


Year. 

Ohio. 

Indiana. 

Illinois. 

Michigan. 

Wisconsin. 

Iowa. 

Missouri. 

Ark.  Kentucky.  Tenn. 

1848, 

10,562 

1,030 

3,265 

3,290 

808 

161 

1,112 

65 

259 

1,266 

1849, 

10,718 

1,910 

3,205 

2,767 

2,632 

1,066 

703 

375 

811 

84 

884 

1850, 

11,393 

1,404 

2,300 

217 

846 

124 

1,035 

1851, 

11,905 

1,961 

3,591 

2,119 

927 

331 

303 

127 

641 

Total, 

44,578 

6,305 

12,828 

10,341 

3,504 

1,084 

3,072 

65 

594 

3,826 

VI.  Increase  of  the  Receipts  of  the  Board  from  New  England  and 

New  York,  in  the  last  twenty  years. 


Certain  Districts  are  selected,  in  each  of  the  States,  which  may  serve  as  the  basis 
of  the  rate  of  increase  on  the  whole.  Of  course  it  will  be  only  an  approximation. 


Year. 

1832, 

1833, 

1834, 

1835, 

1836, 

1837, 

1838, 

1839, 


ICumberland  Co. 

$943 

1,226 

1,232 


Me. 


],242 


769 

2,068 

2,289 

2,211 


-4,643 


Hillsboro’  Co.,  N.  H. 

1,847 
1,783 
1,759 
1,856 


-7,337 


1,699 

1,991 

2,167 

2,129 


-7,245 


-7,986 


Rutland  Co.,  VI. 

936 

743 

828 

612 

- 3,119 

721 

1,519 

1,366 

1,350 

- 4,956 


-8,212 


-10,102 


-6,136 


-9,315 


-10,528 


-6,246 


Berkshire  Co,,  Ms. 

1,967 

1,970 

1,667 


1,612 


1,691 

1,404 

1,833 

2,317 


-7,216 


-7,245 


1840, 

2,715 

2,788 

1,754 

1,009 

1841, 

2,072 

3,038 

1,915 

4,758 

1842, 

4,016 

3,416 

2,781 

2,879 

1843, 

1,813 

10,616 

2,882 

12,124 

1,545 

7,995 

2,220 

1844, 

2,129 

2,971 

1,607 

3,121 

1845, 

2,177 

2,792 

2,144 

1,650 

2,621 

1846, 

2,013 

1,501 

2,072 

1847, 

1,893 

2,195 

1,378 

2,523 

10,866 


-10,337 


1848 

2,491 

2,366 

1,697 

3,829 

1849, 

1,935 

3,223 

1,513 

2,275 

1850, 

2,507 

2,644 

1,690 

2,990 

1851, 

2,382 

2,295 

1,346 

2,595 

-11,689 


9 


Yeiir. 

ProokfieUl  Asso.,  Ms.  Worc’r  Central,  Ms. 

Boston,  Ms. 

Hartforil  Co.,  Ct. 

Windham  Co.,  Ct. 

1832, 

$1,298 

1,761 

7,446 

3,807 

1,143 

1,074 

1833, 

1,382 

1,814 

8,141 

4,649 

183-1, 

1,578 

2,023 

9,338 

•  4,175 

1,171 

1835, 

1,461 

2,081 

8,611 

4,293 

1,061 

- 5,719 

- 7,679 

33,536 

16,924 

- - 4,449 

1830, 

1,530 

2,055 

8,343 

3,940 

1,357 

1837, 

2,433 

3,192 

13,129 

6,316 

1,471 

1838, 

2,711 

4,275 

8,842 

7,571 

11,882 

2,208 

1839, 

2,762 

8,576 

8,156 

2,562 

9,430 

13,098 

37,885 

- 30,294 

7,598 

1810, 

2,619 

4,816 

3,927 

12,179 

7,056 

2,393 

2,737 

18-11, 

2,759 

14,143 

8,877 

1842, 

2,884 

5,588 

18,479 

9,284 

3,449 

1843, 

2,557 

4,480 

16,921 

9,389 

2,622 

10,819 

18,811 

- 61,722 

- 34,606 

11,201 

1844, 

3,298 

4,148 

15,630 

5,934 

2,464 

2,533 

1845, 

4,004 

7,599 

15,393 

7,105 

1846, 

3,164 

4,155 

14,105 

6,727 

2,264 

1847, 

2,718 

4,120 

15,913 

5,771 

2,166 

13,184 

- 20,022 

- 61,041 

25,537 

- 9,427 

1848, 

3,302 

4,464 

5,584 

13,795 

.  7,587 

2,525 

1849, 

3,245 

22,122 

17,537 

9,252 

2,932 

2,105 

2,167 

1850, 

4,295 

5,127 

6,234 

6,743 

1851, 

3,486 

4,618 

19,127 

- 14,328 

19,793 

72,581 

- 29,816 

9,729 

Year. 

1832, 

1833, 

1834, 

1835, 

N.  y.  City  &  Brooklyn.  Genera  &  Vic.  N.  Y.  Monroe  Co.  N.  Y. 

$9,984  2,025 

14,044  1,640 

7,637  2,685 

13,401  1,876 

- 45,066  - 8,226 

Oneida  Co.  N.  Y. 

4,211 

5,498 

3,710 

4,537 

- 17,956 

Buffalo  and  Vic. 

1836, 

12,164 

2,147 

3,269 

2,724 

1837, 

17,107 

4,911 

3,915 

3,453 

4,282 

542 

1838, 

11,234 

13,769 

7,693 

3,123 

2,956 

338 

1839, 

8,531 

3,301 

690 

54,274 

- 23,282 

- 14,938 

- 13,085 

- 1,570 

1840, 

11,132 

6,719 

2,978 

2,899 

501 

1841, 

12,447 

9,337 

2,509 

2,935 

972 

1842, 

15,301 

13,390 

7,942 

2,999 

3,858 

2,226 

1,402 

1843, 

7,172 

2,042 

678 

52,270 

- 31,170 

- 12,344 

- 10,102 

- 3,553 

1844, 

10,923 

6,428 

6,167 

3,608 

1,778 

1,306 

1845, 

11,885 

7,974 

3,373 

2,112 

787 

1846, 

4,977 

1,960 

1,776 

1,063 

1847, 

13,807 

1 1  580 

4,251 

803 

3,196 

1  ^  1  97 

1,895 

762 

o  m  o 

"  l^yXOi 

"  ■#  jOOi 

1848, 

11,598 

4,557 

3,944 

1,818 

1,523 

1849, 

21,252 

5,204 

4,113 

2,376 

1,363 

1850, 

13,241 

5,229 

1,976 

1,457 

809 

1851, 

17,847 

6,262 

4,873 

1,555 

1,846 

- 63,938  - 21,252  - 14,906 

The  following  is  a  Summary  View. 

1.  In  New  England. 

First  Period. 

- 7,206 

Last  Period. 

- 5,541 

Increase. 

Boston,  Ms. 

$33,536 

72,581 

39,045 

Worcester  Central,  Ms. 

7,679 

19,793 

12,114 

Brookfield  Association,  Ms. 

5,719 

14,328 

8,609 

Berkshire  Co.,  Ms 

• 

7,216 

11,689 

4,473 

Hartford  Co.,  Ct. 

16,924 

29,816 

12,892 

Windham  Co.,  Ct. 

4,449 

9,729 

5,280 

Rutland,  Vt. 

2 

3,119 

6,246 

3,127 

10 

Hillsboro’,  N.  H. 

7,245 

10,528 

3,283 

Cumberland,  Me. 

4,643 

9,315 

4,672 

• 

90,530 

184,025 

93,495 

2.  In  New  York. 

First. 

Fifth. 

Increase. 

N.  Y.  City  and  Brooklyn, 

$45,066 

63,938 

18,872 

Geneva  and  Vicinity, 

23,282 

21,252 

*2,030 

Monroe  Co. 

8,226 

14,906 

6,680 

Oneida  Co. 

17,956 

7,206 

*10,750 

Buffalo  and  Vicinity, 

3,553 

5,541 

1,988 

98,083 

112,843 

14,760 

*  Decrease. 

VII.  Donations  from  States 

to  the  Board, 

in  the  years 

1839,  1844, 

and  1851. 

Tke  donations  for  1839  and  1844,  are  taken  from  tables  compiled  and  printed  in 

pamphlet  form  several  years  ago.  Those  for  1851,  are  from  the  table  supplement- 

ary  to  the  Treasurer’s  Accounts  in  the  Report  for  that  year. 

States. 

1839. 

1844. 

1851. 

Maine, 

$6,279 

7,822 

7,122 

New  Hampshire, 

9,151 

10,052 

10,891 

Vermont, 

9,142 

10,022 

8,515 

Massachusetts, 

48,876 

73,369 

77,280 

Connecticut, 

33,975 

37,259 

38,534 

Rhode  Island, 

1,652 

2,957 

2,678 

New  York, 

48,554 

45,828 

60,800 

New  Jersey, 

5,180 

6,486 

9,716 

Pennsylvania, 

12,823 

10,558 

12,466 

Delaware, 

515 

607 

540 

Maryland, 

1,272 

768 

2,152 

District  of  Columbia, 

631 

646 

642 

Virginia, 

392 

2,444 

1,400 

North  Carolina, 

157 

22 

48 

South  Carolina, 

1,303 

1,139 

1,239 

Georgia, 

2,459 

1,770 

3,395 

Florida, 

35 

20 

Alabama, 

1,399 

843 

244 

Mississippi, 

84 

191 

105 

Louisiana, 

130 

281 

185 

Tennessee, 

1,462 

1,980 

641 

Kentucky, 

855 

482 

127 

Arkansas, 

70 

441 

Missouri, 

1,438 

475 

303 

Iowa, 

> 

941 

331 

Wisconsin, 

10  \ 

927 

Illinois, 

2,240 

1,948 

3,591 

Indiana, 

690 

928 

1,961 

Michigan, 

318 

1,263 

2,119 

Ohio, 

7,628 

9,874 

11,905 

Canada, 

914 

Foreign  Countries, 

2,671 

2,204 

12,384 

Co-operating  Societies, 

12,549 

Unknown, 

685 

Texas, 

36 

California, 

120 

Minesota  Territory, 

104 

Oregon  Territory, 

177 

11 


Other  Societies  operating  in  Foreign  Missions. 

VIII.  Receipts  of  the  General  Asseiiihhfs  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 


Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Average  Annual  Receipts. 

1838, 

$44,748 

1839, 

56,150 

*100,898 

50,449 

1840, 

54,425 

1841, 

62,344 

1842, 

58,924 

1843, 

54,760 

.230,453 

57,613 

1844, 

66,674 

1845, 

72,117 

1846, 

76,395 

1847, 

82,739 

297,925 

74,481 

1848, 

89,165 

1849, 

96,294 

1850, 

104,665 

1851, 

108,544 

398,668 

99,667 

18.52, 

117,882 

1853, 

122,615 

The  grants  of  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  and  appropriations  from  the  United 
States  Government  for  Indian  missions,  have  been  deducted. 

*  For  two  years  only. 


IX.  Receipts  of  the  'American  Bible  Society  as  the  result  of  Dona¬ 
tions,  and  the  appropriations  made  of  the  same. 


Year. 

1832, 

1833, 

1834, 

1835, 

1836, 

1837, 

1838, 

1839, 

1840, 

1841, 

1842, 

1843, 

1844, 

1845, 

1846, 

1847, 

1848, 

1849, 

1850, 

1851, 


Receipts. 

$47,564 

46,091 

54,570 

62,868 

Periods. 

211,093 

Dona,  for  For.  Dis. 

58,781 

13,789 

35,728 

6,589 

44,365 

3,631 

53,285 

192,159 

5,840 

48,030 

6,418 

61,840 

2,686 

3,843 

74,530 

65,244 

249,644 

2,419 

67,606 

1,247 

68,468 

1,091 

104,551 

1,526 

73,946 

314,571 

965 

94,505 

1,938 

91,804 

10,762 

117,794 

120,065 

424,168 

1,483 

App.  for  For.  Uset.  Periods.  For  Home  Uses. 

631 

15,300 

17,000 

35,500 

• -  68,431  142,662 

39,070 

6,326 

20,230 

19,465 

-  85,091  107,068 

10,549 

30,794 

16,619 

15,518 

-  73,480  176,164 

23,945 

13,792 

1.500 
18,000 

-  57,237  257,334 

9.500 
11,188 
17,900 

9,100 

47,788  376,380 


1852,  1,391,635 


332,027  1,059,609 


12 


X.  Receipts  of  the  American  Tract  Society  as  the  result  of  Dona¬ 
tions,  and  the  appropriations  made  of  the  same. 


Year. 

Receipts.  Periods. 

App.  For.  Dis.  Periods. 

Colportage.  Periods.  Home  Uses.  Dona.  For.  Dis. 

1832, 

$24,476 

5,044 

10,000 

1833, 

31,229 

1834, 

35,213 

20,000 

1835, 

60,628—151,546 

30,000—65,044 

86,502 

1836, 

1837, 

56,638 

35,000 

29,949 

72,933 

35,000 

10,000 

31,332 

1838, 

1839, 

37,175 

11,985 

55,854 — 222,600 

30,000—110,000 

112,600 

28,099 

1840, 

41,476 

20,000 

19,594 

1841, 

41,752 

25,000 

23,390 

1842, 

34,942 

15,000 

11,845 

1843, 

46,326—164,496 

15,000 — 75,000 

5,929  5,929 

89,506 

5,929 

1844, 

56,680 

20,000 

15,011 

4,382 

1845, 

66,080 

71,132 

6,000 

25,382 

1,313 

4,305 

1846, 

1847, 

15,000 

31,043 

67,771—261,663 

10,000 — 51,000 

40,191-111,627 

210,663 

2,308 

1848, 

105,915 

11,000 

50,559 

1,729 

1849, 

94,081 

105,894 

14,000 

58,106 

66,274 

2,091 

1850, 

15,000 

1,812 

790 

1851, 

109,897—415,787 

20,000 — 60,000 

73,278—248,217 

355,787 

1852, 

116,406 

20,000 

79,073 

1853, 

147,374 

1,216,092 

361,044 

365,773 

855,058 

XL 

Receipts  of  the  American  Protestant  Society,  the  Foreign  Evan- 

gelical  Society,  and  the  American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union. 


American  Protestant  Society. 


Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods.  Average  Annual  Receipts. 

1844, 

$6,746 

1845, 

9,184 

1846, 

19,709 

1847, 

25,028 

•60,667 

15,166 

1848, 

28,704 

1849, 

29,137 

-57,841 

28,920 

Foreign  Evangelical  Society. 

Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods.  Average  Annual  Receipts. 

1840, 

$10,210 

1841, 

14,357 

1842, 

10,900 

1843, 

10,766 

-46,233 

11,558 

1844, 

13,356 

1845, 

16,249 

1846, 

20,146 

1847, 

14,855 

■64,606 

16,151 

1848, 

19,439 

1849, 

24,484 

* 

American  and  Foreig 

n  Christian  Union. 

Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Av.  Ann.  Receipts. 

App.  to  Home  Uses. 

1850, 

$57,223 

1851, 

56,265- 

157,411 

39,352 

f64,000 

*  Constituted  by  the  union  of  the  Foreign  Evangelical  Society,  the  American  Protestant  Society, 
and  the  Christian  Alliance.  t  Conjectural. 


13 


XII.  Receipts  of  the  American  Missionary  Association. 


Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Ar.  Ann.  Roc.  App.  to  Homo  Missions. 

1847, 

$13,033 

1848, 

17,095 

1849, 

21,982 

1,581 

1850, 

25,159 

3,186 

1851, 

34,535 

2,632 

98,771 

24,692 

XIII.  Receipts  for  Foreign  Missions,  in  Periods  of  four  years  each. 


Periods. 

Amer.  Board  of  Com. 
for  For.  Missions. 

Pres.  Board  of 
For.  Missions. 

Amer.  Bible 
Society. 

Amer.  Tract 
Society. 

Am.  &  For.  Ch. 
Union. 

Am.  Miss. 
Asso’n. 

1836—39, 

1840—43, 

$908,649 

1,039,531 

*100,898 

230,453 

f85,091 

73,480 

tiio,ooo 

75,000 

46,233 

1844—47, 

964,983 

297,925 

57,237 

51,000 

64,606 

1848—51, 

1,072,526 

398,668 

47,788 

60,000 

93,411 

91,372 

3,985,689 

1,027,944 

263,596 

296,000 

204,250 

91,372 

1,027,944 

263,596 

296,000 

204,250 

91,372 — $5,868,851,  total  in  16  years  for  Foreign  Missions. 


*  Tavo  years  only. 


t  Appropriations  by  the  Society. 


XIV.  Growth  of  the  Foreign  Missions. 


Periods.  Society. 

1836—39,  Am.  Board  Com.  For.  Miss. 
[1838,  9]  Pres.  Board  For.  Miss. 
Amer.  Bible  Society, 

Amer.  Tract  Society, 


1840 — 43,  Am.  Board  Com.  For.  Miss. 
Pres.  Board  For.  Miss. 
Amer.  Bible  Society, 

Amer.  Tract  Society, 

For.  Evangelical  Society, 

1844 — 47,  Am.  Board  Com.  For.  Miss. 
Pres.  Board  For.  Miss. 
Amer.  Bible  Society, 

Amer.  Tract  Society, 

For.  Evangelical  Society, 

1848 — 51,  Am.  Board  Com.  For.  Miss. 
Pres.  Board  For.  Miss. 
Amer.  Bible  Society, 

Amer.  Tract  Society, 

Am.  and  For.  Chr.  Union, 
Am.  Miss.  Association, 


Receipts  in  Total  of  Receipts  Average  Annual 
Periods.  in  the  Periods.  Receipts. 


$908,649 

100,898 

85,091 

110,000 

-  1,204,638 

1,039,531 

230,453 

73,480 

75,000 

46,238 

-  1,464,702 

964,983 

297,925 

57,237 

51,000 

64,606 

-  1,435,751 

1,072,526 

398,668 

47,788 

60,000 

93,411 

91,372 


227,162 

25,224 

21,272 

27,500 

-  301,159 

259,882 

57,613 

18,370 

18.750 
11,559 

-  366,175 

241,245 

74,481 

14,309 

12.750 
16,151 

-  358,937 

268,131 

99,667 

11,947 

15,000 

23,352 

22,843 


1,763,765 


440,941 


14 


HOME  MISSIONS. 


XV.  Receipts  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society. 


Society’s  Year. 

Receipts.  Periods  of  Four  Years.  Inc,  in  the  Periods. 

Ay.  Ann.  Receipts. 

1-1826-27, 

$18,140  76 

2-1827-28, 

20,035  78 

3-1828-29, 

26,997  31 

4-1829-30, 

33,929  44 

5-1830-31, 

48,124  73 - 129,087 

32,271 

6-1831-32, 

49,422  12 

7-1832-33, 

68,627  17 

8-1833-34, 

78,911  44 

9-1834-35, 

88,863  22  285,823 

156,737 

71,455 

10-1835-36, 

101,565  15 

11-1836-37, 

85,701  59 

12-1837-38, 

86,522  45 

13-1838-39, 

82,564  63  356,353 

70,530 

89,088 

14-1839-40, 

78,345  20 

15-1840-41, 

85,413  34 

16-1841-42, 

92,463  64 

17-1842-43, 

99,812  24 - 356,034 

*319 

89,008 

18-1843-44, 

101,904  99 

19-1844-45, 

121,946  28 

20-1845-46, 

125,124  70 

21-1846-47, 

116,617  94  465,593 

109,559 

116,398 

22-1847-48, 

140,197  10 

23-1848-49, 

145,925  91 

24-1849-50, 

157,160  78 

25 — 1850-51, 

150,942  25 - 594,226 

128,630 

148,556 

26-1851-52, 

160,062  25 

27-1852-53, 

171,734  24 

*  Less  than  in  the  preceding 

period. 

XVI.  Receipts  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Home  Missions. 

Year. 

Receipts.  Periods. 

Increase. 

Av.  Ann.  Receipts. 

1832, 

$23,030 

1833, 

27,058 

1834, 

23,451 

1835, 

22,664 - 96,203 

24,050 

1836, 

25,000 

1837, 

30,961 

1838, 

22,747 

1839, 

24,063 - 102,771 

6,568 

25,692 

1840, 

21,413 

1841, 

20,636 

1842, 

16,321 

1843, 

19,108 - 77,478 

*25,293 

19,369 

1844, 

23,013 

1845, 

29,688 

1846, 

32,322 

1847, 

30,870 - 115,893 

38,415 

28,973 

1848, 

33,390 

1849, 

44,432 

1850, 

79,043 

1851, 

82,818  239,683 

123,790 

59,920 

*  Less  than  in  the  preceding"  period. 


15 


[Note. — The  preceding  abstract  of  the  receipts  of  the  I’resbytcrian  Board  of  Home  Missions,  was 
prepared  from  the  Annual  Iteports  of  tliat  Board.  Subsecpiently  to  the  iniblication  of  tliis  ])amphlet, 
the  following  official  list  of  receipts  in  the  above  years  ai)peared  in  the  “  Home  llecord  ;  ”  includ¬ 
ing  not  only  the  receipts  at  Bhiladelphia,  but  also  those  of  the  local  agencies  at  Louisville,  I’itts- 
burg,  and  the  Synod  of  Ohio. 


1832, 

$20,692 

10 

1838, 

34,238 

14 

1844, 

36,595 

38 

1850, 

67,654 

19 

1833, 

21,471 

29 

1839, 

39,419 

63 

1845, 

45,821 

15 

1851, 

74,974 

27 

1834, 

24,029 

05 

1840, 

39,225 

90 

1846, 

47,631 

98 

1852, 

eleven 

1835, 

22,135 

93 

1841, 

33,522 

43 

1847, 

51,809 

77 

months,  64,356 

29 

1836, 

30,010 

80 

1842, 

32,082 

24 

1848, 

56,147 

80 

1837, 

29,715 

73 

1843, 

29,934 

52 

1849, 

70,440 

37 

$871,938 

96] 

03^  For  Receipts  of  American  Bible  Society  ;  American  Tract  Society  ;  American 
Protestant,  Foreign  Evangelical,  and  Foreign  Christian  Union,  and  American  Mis¬ 
sionary  Association,  see  ix,  x,  xi,  xii,  pp.  11 — 13;  numbered,  in  first  edition, 
xvii — XX. 


XXL  Receipts  of  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Collegiate  and 
Theological  Education  at  the  West. 


Year. 

Receipts.  Periods. 

Year. 

Receipts.  Periods. 

1844, 

$17,004 

1848, 

$12,339 

1845, 

10,967 

1849, 

11,001 

1846, 

15,686 

1850, 

17,623 

1847, 

14,113  57,770 

1851, 

16,962  57,925 

A  much  larger  sum  than  this  was  actually  given  for  the  Colleges  in  this  space 
of  time,  though  not  through  this  Society. 


XXII.  Receipts  of  the  American  Sunday 

of  Donations. 


School  Union  as  the  result 


Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Average  Annual  P 

1832, 

$34,691 

1833, 

19,711 

1834, 

28,61 1 

1835, 

26,988 

110,001 

27,500 

1836, 

38,321 

1837, 

34,035 

1838, 

22,423 

1839, 

15,384 

110,163 

27,540 

1840, 

14,134 

1841, 

14,259 

1842, 

14,844 

1843, 

12,311 

55,548 

13,887 

1844, 

14,343 

1845, 

25,369 

1846, 

25,019 

1847, 

22,777 

87,508 

21,877 

1848, 

31,092 

1849, 

31,189 

1850, 

35,533 

1851, 

34,807 

132,621 

33,155 

1852, 

50,038 

16 


XXIII.  Receipts  of  the  American  Education  Society. 


Year, 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Average  Annual  Receipts. 

1832, 

$42,030 

1833, 

47,836 

1834, 

57,818 

1835, 

83,062 

230,746 

57,686 

1836, 

63,227 

1837, 

65,574 

1838, 

55,660 

1839, 

55,075 

239,536 

59,884 

1840, 

51,963 

1841, 

63,113 

1842, 

34,491 

1843, 

33,789— 

—183,356 

45,839 

1844, 

34,811 

1845, 

34,842 

1846, 

39,348 

1847, 

28,299 

137,300 

34,325 

1848, 

24,974 

1849, 

27,301 

1850, 

28,428 

1851, 

27,591 

108,294 

27,073 

1852,  29,376 

1853,  22,729 


XXIV.  Presbyterian  Board  of  Education. 


Year. 


Receipts.  Periods. 


Average  Annual  Receipts. 


1832, 

1833, 

1834, 

$44,585 

1835, 

37,038 

1836, 

1837, 

50,064 

41,850 

1838, 

33,094 

1839, 

33,562 

1840, 

23,273 

1841, 

124,000 

1842, 

1843, 

24,538 

29,104 

1844, 

31,057 

1845, 

31,723 

1846, 

34,953 

1847, 

t34,000 

1848, 

31,078 

1849, 

37,754 

1850, 

32,447 

1851, 

36,501 

^81,623 

20,405 

158,570 

39,642 

100,915 

25,228 

131,733 

32,933 

137,780 

34,445 

*  For  two  years  only. 


I  Conjectural. 


17 


XXV.  Receipts  for  Home  Missions  ^  in  Periods  of  four  years  each. 


Periods. 

Amer.  Home  Miss. 
iSocieiy. 

Pres.  Roard  of 
Home  Missions. 

Amor.  Bible 
Society. 

Amer.  Tract 

Society. 

Am.  Prot.  Soc. 
&  A.  &  P.Cli.Un. 

1832- 

-35, 

$285,823 

96,203 

142,662 

86,502 

1836- 

-39, 

356  353 

102  771 

107,068 

112  600 

1840- 

-43, 

356,034 

77,478 

176,164 

89,506 

1844- 

-47, 

465,593 

115,893 

257,334 

210,663 

60,667 

1848- 

-51, 

594,226 

239,683 

376,380 

355,787 

121,841 

$2,058,029 

632,028 

1,059,608 

855,058 

182,508 

western  Coll. 

Am.  Miss. 

Am  Snn.  Sch. 

Am.  Educa. 

Pres.  Board 

Society. 

Assoc. 

Union. 

Society. 

of|^Educ. 

1832- 

-35, 

110,001 

230.746 

81,623 

3836- 

-39, 

110,163 

239,536 

158,570 

1840- 

-43, 

55.548 

183,356 

100,915 

1844- 

47, 

57,770 

87,508 

137,300 

131,733 

1848- 

51, 

57,925 

7,399 

132  621 

108,294 

137,780 

115,695 

7,399 

495,841 

899,232 

•  610,621 

899, *232 
495  841 
7,399 
115,695 
182,508 
855,058 
1,059,608 
632,028 
2,058,029 


$6,916,019 

f  $285,823 
96,203 
142,662 

Period,  1832—35,  ....<(  86,502 

110,001 

230,746 

81,623 

-  1,033,560 


In  16  years  for  Horae  Missions, 


$5,882,459 


XXVI.  Growth  of  the  Home  Missions. 


I’eriodi.  Society, 


Receipts  in 
Periods. 


1836-39,  Amer.  Home  Miss.  Society,  $356,353 

Pres.  Board  Home  Missions,  102,771 

American  Bible  Society,  107,068 

American  Tract  Society,  112,600 

American  Education  Society,  239,536 

American  Sunday  School  Union,  110,163 

Presbyterian  Board  Education,  158,570 


Totals  of  Receipts 
in  the  Periods. 


Average  Annual  Re¬ 
ceipts. 

89,088 

25,692 

26,767 

28,150 

59,884 

27,540 

39,642 

- $296,765 


3 


1,187,061 


18 


Periods, 


Society. 


Receipts  in  Totals  of  Receipts  Avcrac'e  Annual  Re- 
Periods.  in  the  Periods.  r'eipia. 


1840-43,  Amer.  Home  Miss.  Society,  $356,034  89.008 

Pres.  Board  Home  Missions,  77,478  19,369 

American  Bible  Society,  176.164  44,041 

American  'rract  Society,  89,506  22.376 

American  Education  Society,  183,356  45,839 

xlmerican  Sunday  School  Union,  55,548  13,887 

Presbyterian  Board  Education,  100,915  25.228 

-  1,039,001  259,750 

1844-47,  x\mer.  Home  Miss.  Society,  465,593  116,398 

Pres.  Board  Home  Missions,  115,893  28,973 

American  Bible  Society,  257,334  64,333 

American  Tract  Society,  210,663  52,665 

American  Education  Society,  137,300  ’  34,325 

American  Sunday  School  Union,  87,508  21,877 

American  Protestant  Society,  60,667  15,166 

Western  College  Society,  57,770  14,442 

Presbyterian  Board  Education,  131,733  32,933 

- -  1,524,461  381,115 

1848-51,  Amer.  Home  Miss.  Society,  594,226  148,556 

Pres.  Board  Home  Missions,  239,683  59,920 

American  Bible  Society,  376,380  94,096 

American  Tract  Society,  355,787  88,y46 

American  Education  Society,  108,294  27,073 

American  Sunday  School  Union,  132,621  33,155 

American  Protestant  Society  and 

Am.  and  For.  Christian  Union,  121,841  30,460 

Western  College  Society,  57,925  14,481 

American  Missionary  Association,  7,399  1,849 

Presbyterian  Board  Education,  137,780  34,445 

-  2,131,936  532,984 


Annual  Average  Receipts  for  each  Period. 


American 

Presbyterian 

American 

American 

American 

Presbyterian 

American 

Western 

Periods. 

lluine  MibS. 

Board  of 

Bible 

'I'ract 

Educalion 

Board  of 

Miiiday 

C'ollejte 

Society. 

liurne  Miss. 

Society. 

Society. 

Society. 

Education. 

Sell.  Union. 

Society , 

1836-39, 

$89,088 

25.692 

26,767 

28,150 

59,884 

39,642 

27,540 

1840-43, 

89,008 

19,369 

44,041 

22,376 

45,839 

25,228 

13,88  f 

1844-47, 

116,398 

28,973 

64.333 

52,665 

34,325 

32,933 

21,87.'' 

14,442 

1848-51, 

148,556 

59,920 

94,095 

88,946 

27,073 

34,445 

33,15e 

14,481 

XXVII.  Growth  of  Foreign  and  Home  Missions. 

FOREIGN  MISSIONS.  HOME  MISSIONS. 


1836—39, 

Totals. 

$1,204,638 

Average  annual. 

301,159 

Totals. 

1,187,061 

Aver.i.r'e  annual. 

296,765 

1840-43, 

1,464,702 

366,175 

1,039,001 

259,750 

1844—47, 

1,435,751 

358,937 

1,524,461 

381,112 

1848-51, 

1,763,765 

440,941 

2,131,936 

532,984 

Total, 

$5,868,856 

1,467,212 

5,882,456 

1,470,611 

Average, 

$1,467,214 

366,803 

1,470,614 

367,652 

1848—51, 

1,763,765 

440,941 

2,131,936 

532,984 

1836—39, 

1,204,638 

301,159 

1,187,061 

296,765 

Increase, 

$559,127 

139,782 

944,875 

236,219 

19 


ENGLISH  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


The  means  are  at  hand  for  stating  the  receipts  of  English  Foreign 
M  issionary  Societies,  to  a  great  extent,  but  not  of  those  operating  in 
the  Home  Missionary  department.  It  will  be  sufficient,  however,  to 
give  the  receipts  of  two  of  the  larger  Missionary  Societies,  occupying 
the  same  ground,  as  regards  the  popular  mind,  with  the  larger  benevo¬ 
lent  societies  generally  in  this  country. 


XXVHI. 

Receipts  of  the  London  Missionary  Society. 

Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Average  Annual  Receipts. 

1836, 

£63,714 

1837, 

71,335 

1838, 

84.821 

1839, 

80,321 

300,191 

£75,047 

]840, 

94.954 

3841, 

96,771 

1842, 

91.795 

1843, 

93,947 

377,467 

94,366 

1844, 

89,124 

1845, 

90.715 

1846, 

82,991 

1847, 

81,183 

344,013 

86,003 

1848, 

87,925 

1849, 

67,563 

' 

3850, 

64,642 

1851, 

72,292 

292,422 

73,105 

1852, 

72,778 

1853, 

71,821 

144,599 

72,299 

XXIX.  Receipts  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  England. 


Year. 

Receipts. 

Periods. 

Average  Annual  1 

1836, 

£70,465 

1837, 

74,731 

1838, 

91,723 

1839, 

95,505 

332,424 

£83,106 

1840, 

104,304 

1841, 

101,576 

1842, 

113,263 

1843, 

111,875 

431,018 

107,754 

1844, 

103,661 

1845, 

102,495 

1846, 

105,059 

1847, 

119,410 

430,625 

107,456 

1848, 

115,012 

1849, 

101,003 

3850, 

94  401 

1851, 

101.554 

411,970 

102,992 

1852, 

118,674 

1853, 

120,932 

239,606 

139,803 

20 


Statement  concerning  a  Hassachnsetts  Ansiliary. 

There  is  in  Massachusetts  an  Auxiliary  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  [the  Brook¬ 
field,]  embracing  at  present  sixteen  churches,  which  for  many  years  has  published 
an  Annual  Report,  embracing,  with  but  few  exceptions,  every  subscriber’s  name 
and  the  amount  of  every  individual  subscription.  These  Reports  furnish  statistics 
of  great  value.  From  them,  several  years  ago,  tables  were  constructed,  embrac¬ 
ing  a  period  of  four  years,  from  1838  to  1841,  inclusive  ;  and  recently  like  tables 
have  been  made  out,  embracing  four  years,  from  1847  to  1850,  and  then  also  tables 
comparing  the  action  of  the  Society  for  these  two  periods.  The  sixteen  churches 
have,  in  most  cases,  their  ovrn  male  and  female  Missionary  Associations.  They 
are  probably  as  well  organized,  as  sure  to  make  an  annual  collection  at  the  proper 
time,  and  as  sure  to  do  the  work  v/ell,  as  any  like  number  of  adjoining  churches 
anywhere  in  the  United  States. 

Nummary  for  the  Years  1838-41. 

The  folio-wing  table  presents  a  classification  of  subscriptions,  in  the  years  1838-1811,  and  sho-ws 
the  number  of  subscribers  under  several  sums,  from  six  cents  up  to  ten  dollars. 


Years. 

Dollars. 

Fractional  parts  of  a  dollar. 

No.  of  con¬ 

tributors. 

Amount 

con¬ 

tributed. 

1838. 

10 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

75 

60 

50 

40 

37 

30 

25 

20 

12 

10 

6 

Gentlemen,  .  .  . 

20 

41 

2 

39 

75 

279 

7 

1 

153 

2 

1 

2 

75 

19 

5 

4 

725 

$1,184  15 

Ladies, . 

4 

10 

4 

21 

64 

246 

27 

7 

41.’^ 

6 

9 

14 

441 

141 

30 

51 

1.493 

917  39 

24 

51 

6 

60 

139 

52- 

34 

8 

568 

8 

10 

16 

5i6 

163 

35 

,55 

2,2l8 

$2,0^1  54 

1839. 

Gentlemen,  .  .  . 

20 

36 

4 

43 

77 

283 

18 

176 

1 

] 

4 

120 

6 

43 

5 

19 

8,56 

1,211  45 

Ladies, . 

3 

8 

5 

15 

58 

264 

45 

8 

4,50 

13 

11 

528 

27 

140 

37 

41 

1 ,6,55 

1,019  39 

23 

44 

9 

58 

135 

547 

63 

8 

626 

3 

16 

648 

33 

183 

42 

60 

2,511 

$2,230  84 

1840. 

Gentlemen,  .  .  . 

37 

29 

13 

16 

98 

324 

11 

225 

1 

1 

137 

7 

42 

18 

24 

1,013 

1,571  13 

Ladies, . 

15 

2.. 

6;i 

281 

24 

5 

178 

3 

11 

11 

535 

12 

161 

37 

67 

1,767 

942  64 

37 

66 

167 

6u5 

35 

5 

703 

4 

12 

11 

672 

49 

2(43 

,5r> 

9i 

2,7fe0 

$2,513  77 

1841, 

Gentlemen,  .  .  . 

34 

44 

11 

41 

92 

267 

21 

3 

184 

1 

1 

6 

141 

28 

6 

lb 

902 

1,526  85 

Ladies, . 

27 

7 

IW 

85 

290 

54 

28 

424 

8 

15 

23 

,556 

163 

4e 

7-! 

1,822 

1,169  37 

34 

71 

18 

f.0 

17, 

557 

75 

3T 

“9 

16 

2.1 

iOo 

ioi 

55 

.13 

$2,6.16  22 

General  Summary. 


Years, 


Dollars. 


Fractional  parts  of  a  dollar. 


Amount 

con¬ 

tributed. 


10 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

75 

60 

50 

40 

37 

30 

25 

20 

12 

10 

6 

1838, 

24 

51 

6 

60 

139 

525 

34 

8 

568 

8 

10 

16 

516 

163 

35 

55 

2,218 

$2,091 

,54 

1839, 

23 

44 

9 

58 

135 

,547 

63 

8 

626 

3 

14 

15 

618 

33 

183 

42 

6(; 

2,511 

2,230 

84 

1840, 

37 

44 

21 

68 

167 

605 

35 

5 

703 

4 

12 

1 

672 

4i» 

203 

55 

91 

2,780 

2,513 

77 

1841, 

34 

71 

18 

CO 

177 

5.57 

75 

31 

608 

9 

16 

29 

700 

191 

55 

93 

2,724 

2,696 

22 

118* 

210 

54 

244 

618 

2,234 

207 

52 

2,505 

24 

52 

71 

2,536 

82 

740 

187 

299 

10,233 

$9,532 

37 

Aver’e, 

29 

52 

13 

61 

1  4 

558 

51 

13 

626 

6 

13 

17 

634 

20 

185 

46 

74 

2,558 

$2,383 

09 

*•  Thift  should  he  stated  $10  and  upwards  j  thirty-dve  of  the  subscriptions  were  over  $10. 


1838, 

1839, 

1840, 

1841, 


Contributions  at  the  Monthly  Concert, 

((  <<  tt  if 

it  ii  a  (I 

((  ft  ii  ti 


Amount  of  subscriptions, 
From  other  sources. 


.  $465  31 

.  647  97 

.  584  45 

.  509  82 

- $2,207  55 

.  .  .  9,532  37 

276  14 


Whole  amount  of  contributions  in  money,  from  1838  to  1841,  inclu¬ 
sive,  . $12,016  06 


Summary  for  the  Years  1847-51. 


Subscriptions.  No.  of  Subscribers. 

Subscriptions. 

No.  of  Subscribers. 

Under  10  cents. 

333 

1  to  2  dollars,  . 

151 

10  cents,  .... 

315 

2  dollars,  . 

484 

12^  cents, 

448 

2  to  3  dollars,  . 

50 

12.i  to  25  cents. 

173 

3  dollars,  . 

250 

25  cents; 

.  2,343 

3  to  5  dollars,'  . 

52 

25  to  50  cents. 

133 

5  dollars,  . 

233 

50  cents. 

.  2,088 

5  to  10  dollars. 

^63 

50  to  100  cents. 

177 

10  dollars. 

113 

1  dollar . 

.  1,624 

Over  10  dollars. 

83 

Whole  amount  from  subscriptions. 

•  •  •  • 

$10,525  58 

From  Monthly  Concerts  and  other  sources, 

.  3,396  40 

Total, 

$13,921  98 

Whole  amount  for  four  years,  including 

Monthly  Concert, 

• 

$13,921 

Average  annual  amount. 

•  • 

•  •  •  • 

• 

$3,480 

Number  of  church  member's 

in  1850,  . 

•  •  •  • 

* 

2,403 

Average  annual  amount  to  each. 

•  •  •  • 

• 

$1  36 

Amount  raised  by  the  Gentlemen’s  Associations, 

Average  annual  amount, . 

Male  members  of  the  church  in  1850,  .... 

Average  number  of  male  subscribers . 

Average  annual  amount  to  each, . 

Average  annual  amount  to  each  male  member  of  the  church, 


$6,027 
$1,506 
702 
763 
$1  96 
$2  14 


Amount  raised  by  Ladies’  Associations, 

Average  annual  amount,  ...... 

Female  members  of  the  church  in  1850, 

Average  annual  number  of  female  subscribers,  .  , 

Average  annual  amount  to  each  female  subscriber. 
Average  annual  amount  to  each  member  of  the  church, 


$4,2C8 

$1,052 

1,701 

1,433 

$0,73 

$0,62 


22 


In  the  “Journal  of  Missions  ”  for  November,  1851,  the  Rev.  Isaac  R. 
Worcester,  District  Secretary  for  Massachusetts,  remarks  as  follows,  on 
the  statistical  tables  so  usefully  printed  by  the  Brookfield  Auxiliary. 

What  do  the  Statistics  published  by  this  Society  show  ? 

They  show,  unexpectedly,  that  the  number  of  contributors  to  the  American 
Board  in  these  towns  is  somewhat  smaller  now,  than  it  was  ten  years  ago, 
though  nearly  the  whole  amount  of  falling  off  is  accounted  for  in  a  single 
parish.  (The  number  has  diminished  in  several  towns,  but  in  others  it  has 
increased  )  But  while  the  number  of  subscribers  has  diminished,  the  amount 
subscribed  has  increased.  In  the  first  period  the  whole  amount  raised  in 
these  towns,  including  monthly  concert  contributions,  was  $11,717  10;  in 
the  last  period  it  was  $13,921  98,  or  $3,480  50  annually  upon  the  average. 
This  is  about  $1  36  to  each  member  of  the  churches.  In  the  former 
period  the  average  annual  amount  was  about  $1  03  to  each  church  member. 
One  town  has  increased  in  its  contributions  142  per  cent.  Another  105 
per  cent.  The  increase  in  the  whole  Association  is  about  18i  per  cent; 
though,  according  to  the  number  of  church  members,  it  is  32  per  cent. 
Several  churches  have  fallen  off. 

The  figures  show  that  there  are  many  members  of  these  churches  who  do 
nothing  for  the  Board.  In  fourteen  of  the  churches  the  number  of  members 
in  1850  was  2,403,  but  the  average  annual  number  of  subscribers  in  the 
last  period,  in  these  towns,  was  but  2,196.  Now  many  subscribe  who  are  not 
members  of  the  churches.  In  one  parish  the  number  of  subscribers  is  more 
than  twice  as  great  as  the  number  of  church  members.  There  must,  then, 
be  several  hundreds  of  professing  Christians  in  these  churches  who  do 
nothing  for  this  Society.  How  large  a  part  of  them  contribute  to  the  cause 
of  missions  through  other  channels,  we  cannot  say. 

The  average  annual  number  of  male  subscribers,  in  these  14  towns  in  the 
latter  period,  was  763;  61  more  than  the  number  of  male  members  of  the 
churches  in  1850.  The  female  members  of  the  same  churches  in  1850  were 
1,70 1,  and  the  female  subscribers  in  these  towns  "svere  on  the  average,  only 
1,433  annually,  for  this  period;  268  less  than  the  numher  of  female  church 
members.  In  the  former  period,  the  whole  average  annual  number  of 
subscribers  in  the  same  14  towns  was  2,353,  viz.  males,  826;  females  1,527; 
number  of  church  members  in  1840,  2,632  ;  males,  815  ;  females,  1,817. 

In  both  periods,  therefore,  the  annual  number  of  male  subscribers  slightly 
exceeded  the  number  of  male  members  of  the  church,  while  the  annual 
number  of  female  subscribers  was  considerably  less  than  the  number  of 
females  in  the  churches. 

The  figures  show,  also,  this  pleasing  fact:  that  the  number  of  large 
contributors  is  increasing.  In  the  former  period  of  four  years,  there  were 
but  thirty-five  subscriptions  exceeding  $10  in  amount,  and  eighty-four  of  just 
$10.  In  the  latter  period  there  were  eighty  three  exceeding  $10,  and  one 


23 


luiiidrcd  and  tliirteeii  of  just  ten.  The  number  of  subscriptions  exceeding 
in  the  former  period,  was  six  hundred  and  twenty-six ;  but  in  the  latter 
it  was  eight  hundred  and  forty  four,  though  the  whole  number  of  subscrip¬ 
tions,  as  stated  above,  had  diminished.  But  though  the  number  of  large 
subscriptions  has  increased,  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  still  painfully  small. 
Would  it  have  been  supposed  that  for  the  last  four  years,  in  these  sixteen 
towns,  there  had  been  but  eighty-three  subscriptions,  (twenty-one  annually, 
upon  an  average,)  out  of  more  than  nine  thousand  in  all,  exceeding  ten 
dollars  ? 

Again.  The  figures  show  that,  though  some  are  going  forward,  a  very 
large  part  of  the  subscribers  still  do  but  very  little.  Of  9,113  subscriptions, 
the  whole  number  in  the  last  period,  (omitting  some  juvenile  associations,) 
3,612  were  in  sums  not  exceeding  twenty-five  cents  each;  and  6,010,  or 
1,502  annually,  in  sums  of  less  than  one  dollar  each  ! 

The  figures  show,  also,  quite  too  conclusively,  that  the  amount  subscribed? 
generally,  is  by  no  means  regulated  by  the  exact  ability  of  the  subscribers. 
Subscriptions  are  in  inconvenient  sums  ;  in  sums  which  constitute  a  kind  of 
units  in  our  currency.  Thus  there  are  313  subscriptions  of  ten  cents,  and  448 
of  12^  cents,  but  only  173  between  12^  and  25  cents,  and  then  2,313  of  25 
cents.  There  are  only  133  between  25  and  50  cents,  but  2,088  of  .50  cents  ; 
177  all  the  way  between  50  cents  and  one  dollar,  and  1,624  of  one  dollar. 
From  one  dollar,  the  general  rule  is  to  go  to  two,  from  two  to  three,  from 
three,  not  to  four,  but  to  five,  and  from  five  to  ten.  Here  is  a  hint  for  agents 
and  pastors.  People  need  not  be  urged  to  double  their  subscriptions,  but 
only  to  increase.  If  they  increase,  they  will  at  least  double  in  a  large 
majority  of  cases. 

Here,  too,  is  a  hint  for  those  who  sometimes  urge  a  general  increase  of 
12^  per  cent.,  or  25  per  cent,  upon  all  subscriptions,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
Board.  No  such  general  increase  can  be  secured.  The  25  cent  subscribers 
will  not  go  to  28  or  31  cents,  nor  will  the  one  dollar  subscribers  often  go  to 
],12i  or  1,25.  Every  such  effort  is  vain,  in  the  present  state  of  the  church. 
Men  do  not  calculate  so  closely  upon  what  they  can  give.  Some  of  those 
who  give  by  hundreds  and  by  thousands,  may  make  such  a  proportionate 
increase,  but  not  the  great  number  of  small  contributors. 

Much  more  might  be  said  in  regard  to  what  these  figures  show,  but  the 
reader  will  now  be  left  to  his  own  reflections,  with  only  this  additional 
remark, — they  show  that  even  in  the  best  sections  of  Massachusetts  there  is 
much  room  for  improvement.  And  if  this  is  true  of  the  best  sections  of  this 
State,  what  shall  be  said  of  the  country  at  large  ?  Can  there  not  be  an 
advance  .5* 


11 E  S  U  L  T  S . 


At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1852,  Dr.  Ander¬ 
son,  one  of  the  Secretaries,  read  the  following  special  report,  by 
direction  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  on  the  results  of  the  foresroincr 
statistical  history  of  benevolent  contributions.  It  was  as  follows  : 

One  of  the  printed  documents  to  be  submitted  to  the  Board  is  a  “  Statis¬ 
tical  History  of  Benevolent  Contributions  in  the  past  sixteen  years.”  The 
immediate  occasion  of  preparing  this  was,  to  ascertain  why  the  receipts  of 
the  Board  have  increased  no  faster  during  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years,  and 
what  is  the  prospect  in  future.  This  being  the  object,  it  was  of  course 
necessary  to  restrict  the  inquiry  to  those  religious  denominations,  with  which 
the  Board  has  some  immediate  connection.  The  statistical  tables  are  twenty- 
nine  in  number,  and,  though  prepared  amid  numerous  cares  and  interruptions, 
are  believed  to  be  substantially  correct.  Copies  have  been  distributed  among 
the  members ;  and  those  who  shall  give  attention  to  the  series  of  tables,  will 
probably  yield  their  assent  to  the  following  results. 

1.  We  divide  the  receipts  of  the  American  Board  from  1812  to  1851  into 
ten  periods,  of  four  years  each.*  There  is  then  found  to  have  been  an 
advance  in  every  period  save  one,  and  that  was  the  ninth.  That  is  to  say, 
there  was  a  decline  in  the  receipts, of  only  one  period;  and  there  would  not 
have  been  in  that  period  had  it  not  been  for  the  extraordinary  amount  of  the 
receipts  in  1842,  a  year  belonging  to  the  eighth  period.  Comparing  the 
experience  of  the  Board  with  that  of  the  London  Missionary  Society  and  of 
the  Church  Missionary  Society,  two  of  the  leading  missionary  institutions  of 
Great  Britain, f  we  find,  though  their  receipts  were  considerably  larger  than 
ours,  that  the  experience  of  the  Board  was  more  favorable  than  theirs.  The 
receipts  of  the  London  Missionary  Society  experienced  a  decline  in  both  of 
the  last  two  periods  of  four  years,  and  those  of  the  Church  Missionary  Soci¬ 
ety  in  the  last  three  periods.  What  the  cause  of  this  decline  was,  has  not 
been  investigated,  but  such  was  the  fact.  It  is  pleasing  to  be  able  to  add, 
that  the  last  two  years  show  a  rise  in  the  receipts  of  both  those  admirable 
institutions. 

2.  It  is  necessary  to  take  several  societies  into  account  in  reckoning  what 
have  been  the  proper  receipts  for  foreign  missions ;  not  only  the  American 
Board  and  the  General  Assembly’s  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  but  the 
American  Bible  Society,  the  American  Tract  Society,  the  American  Protest¬ 
ant  Society,  the  Foreign  Evangelical  Society,  the  American  and  Foreign 
Christian  Union,  and  the  American  Missionary  Association.  The  Investi¬ 
gation,  in  respect  to  most  of  these  societies,  is  complete  only  for  the  last 


*  Table  i.  p.  5. 


t  Tables  xxviii.  and  xxix.  p.  19. 


25 


sixteen  years,  from  1836  to  1851  inclusive ;  whicli  arc  divided  into  four 
periods  of  four  years  each.  The  grants  and  payments  of  the  Bible  and 
Tract  societies  for  foreign  missions,  are  reckoned  of  course  as  donations. 
Now  it  appears  in  this  view,  that  the  receipts  for  foreign  missions  of  the  first 
period*  were  $1,204,000,  (omitting  fractions  ;)  of  the  second,  $1,464,000  ;  of 
the  third,  $1,435,000,  (there  being  a  small  decrease ;)  and  of  the  fourth 
$1,763,000.  Here  is  an  advance  in  sixteen  years,  of  pecuniary  contributions 
for  foreign  missions  of  $559,000.  f 

The  fact  to  be  especially  noted  here,  is  the  wonderful  stability  of  the  mis- 
sionaiy  work,  and  the  regularity  of  its  growth.  It  should  also  be  observed, 
that  the  growth  has  been  very  gradual,  averaging  only  about  $35,000  a  year. 
One  reason  for  this  slow  growth  may  appear  as  we  proceed  ;  but  this  is  the 
true  measure  of  the  growth  of  the  instrumentalities  in  the  work  of  foreign 
missions,  as  carried  on  by  Congregationalists  and  Presbyterians,  through  all 
their  organizations ;  including  all  they  do,  and  more  than  all  they  do,  for 
giving  the  Bible,  and  religious  books  and  tracts  to  the  papal  and  heathen 
world. 

3.  In  four  periods  out  of  ten  in  the  Expenditures  of  the  American  Board, 
there  was  some  degree  of  excess  in  the  expenditure  over  the  receipts  • 
amounting,  in  forty  years,  to  about  $46,000.  J  That  account  is  happily  bal¬ 
anced  the  present  year.  It  also  appears, §  that  the  average  annual  increase 
in  the  cost  and  expenditure  for  the  missions,  during  these  forty  years,  has 
been  about  $7,000 ;  in  the  last  sixteen  years,  it  was  less  than  five  thousand. 
Now  the  tables  show,  that  a  uniform  increase  every  year  is  not  to  be  ex¬ 
pected.  Every  society,  every  good  cause,  has  and  will  have  its  fluctuations. 
In  thirteen  of  the  forty-two  years,  ||  the  receipts  of  the  Board  were  less  each 
year  than  they  were  in  the  year  preceding ;  and  the  experience  of  most  other 
societies  is  similar.  It  is,  therefore,  necessary  for  us  to  aim  at  an  advance, 
in  the  years  when  an  advance  is  possible,  of  not  less  than  ten  thousand 
dollars,  in  order  actually  to  maintain  our  rate  of  progress.  Yet  even  such 
a  progress  would  not  admit  of  our  adding  as  many  as  ten  missionaries, 
annually,  to  the  number  in  the  field.  And  should  we  have  that  number  of 
missionaries  to  send,  and  should  we  send  them,  it  would  be  done  at  the  cost 
of  some  reduction  in  our  schools,  and  other  auxiliary  agencies.  Such,  at 
least,  is  the  result  of  mere  theoretical  reasoning,  which  many  regard  as  sufficient 
to  govern  the  proceedings  of  missionary  societies.  But  experience  has  thrown 
new  light  on  this  subject.  It  is  now  known  that  there  is  no  real  danger  of 
missionary  bankruptcy  resulting  from  sending  forth  well  qualified  missiona¬ 
ries,  who  can  show  reason  in  their  own  personal  qualities,  providential  situa¬ 
tions,  and  religious  experience,  why  they  ought  to  go.  The  missionary  work 
is  eminently  the  Lord’s  work,  based  on  a  special  command,  a  special  promise, 
and  a  special  providence  ;  and  it  is  safe  for  all  to  go,  whom  he  calls  by  his 
grace  and  providence  to  the  work  ;  and  of  course  it  is  safe  to  send  them.  It 
would  be  safer,  in  a  financial  point  of  view,  to  send  out  a  score  of  such  men, 
than  to  withhold  one  from  fear  of  the  lack  of  means.  The  Board  tried  the 
policy  of  withholding  men  for  that  reason  in  the  year  1837, — that  memorable 

*  Table  xiv.  p.  13.  f  Table  xxvii.  p.  18.  %  Table  iii.  p.  7.  $  Table  ii.  p.  6.  ||Table  i.  p.  5. 

4 


26 


year  of  ruin  in  the  commercial  world, — and  has  not  yet  recovered  from  the 
paralyzing  influence  of  it  on  the  colleges,  theological  seminaries  and 
churches.  In  fact,  the  only  sure  way  to  get  the  money  is,  in  child-like  faith 
on  God,  to  send  forth  the  men  who  are  called  of  God  to  this  work.  It  would 
seem  to  be  something  like  a  law  of  the  missionary  enterprk'e,  that  every 
good  missionary  shall  virtually  secure  his  own  support,  by  the  reacting  influ¬ 
ence  of  his  self- consecration  and  labors  upon  the  Christian  community  from 
which  he  goes  forth.  Thus  it  has  been.  Every  missionary  has  in  fact  been 
supported.  Certainly  no  one  from  the  United  States  has  ever  yet  been  com¬ 
pelled  to  retire  from  the  field  for  want  of  a  living.  But  though  missionaries 
may  be  expected  to  have  the  means  of  living,  if  judiciously  selected  and 
sent  forth,  still  it  is  true  that  their  number  cannot  be  increased  without  a 
corresponding  increase  of  funds  for  their  support.  There  is  equal  truth  in 
both  propositions ;  we  must  send  the  men,  in  order  to  procure  the  funds ;  and 
there  must  -be  the  funds,  to  enable  the  missionaries  to  keep  the  field. 

4.  Besides  nearly  four  millions  of  dollars  contributed  to  the  American 
Board  during  the  last  sixteen  years,  there  was  contributed,  in  that  time,* 
more  than  a  million  of  dollars  to  the  General  Assembly’s  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  and  the  American  Missionary  Association.  As  this  came  from 
churches,  most  of  which,  previous  to  the  year  1837,  operated  through  the 
American  Board,  a  reason  is  seen  why  the  average  annual  increase  in  the 
receipts  of  the  Board  was  diminished  at  the  rate  of  some  two  thousand  dol¬ 
lars.  For  the  actual  falling  oflf  amounted  to  no  more  than  a  diminution  to 
that  extent,  in  the  rate  of  increase.  Supposing  this  to  be  one  of  the  princi¬ 
pal  causes,  it  ought  then  to  appear  that  the  rate  of  increase  has  been  better 
sustained  in  New  England,  than  it  has  been  elsewhere.  And  this  fact  is 
apparent  in  the  tables.f  The  increase  of  donations  from  New  England  has 
been  nearly,  if  not  quite,  in  the  ratio  of  the  increased  expenditure. 

5.  Farther  light  is  thrown  on  the  subject,  when  we  look  at  the  progress  of 
the  home  missionary  enterprise.,  during  this  period.  |  It  has  been  already 
stated,  as  a  result  of  these  investigations,  that  the  foreign  missionary  enter¬ 
prise,  in  its  larger  view,  has  had  but  a  slow  increase  during  the  past  sixteen 
years,  the  average  annual  rate,  within  the  range  of  our  present  inquiries,  not 
having  exceeded  $35  000.  But  when  we  embrace  home  missions  in  our 
view,  we  see  that  the  spimt  oj  missions,  the  benevolent  spirit  common  to  both 
great  branches  of  the  enterprise,  has  had  a  somewhat  more  rapid  growth. 
The  general  summary  view,  in  the  table  entitled  “  Growth  of  Foreign  and 
Home  Missions,”  §  shows  that  in  the  first  period,  from  1836  to  1839,  the 
receipts  of  the  foreign  and  home  missions  were  of  almost  identically  the 
same  amount,  the  respective  sums  being  $1,204,000,  and  $1,187,000.  But 
in  the  last  period,  from  1848  to  1851,  the  receipts  for  home  missions  exceeded 
those  for  foreign  missions  by  $385,000.  The  sums  were  $1,703,000,  and 
$2,131,000.  The  increase  of  the  one  had  been  $559,000,  while  that  of  the 
other  was  $944,000.  An  important  item  of  this  increase  was  in  the  colpor- 
tage  of  the  Tract  Society,  []  which  has  risen  rapidly  in  favor  with  the  com- 


I 


*  Table  xiii.  p  13..  f  Table  vi.  pp.  8-10.  J  Tables  xxv.  and  xxvi.  p.  17.  ^  Table  xx\’ii.  p.  18. 

H  Table  x.  p.  12. 


27 


miinity,  the  Society  having  been  enabled  to  expend  nearly  $450,000  upon  it 
during  the  ten  years  past,  ft  is  a  curious  fact,  that  the  average  rcctipls  of 
foreign  and  home  missions,  for  eacli  period  of  the  sixteen  past  years,  is  the 
same  within  $3,000.*“  This  fact  is  accounted  for  by  foreign  missions  having 
gained  considerably  on  home  missions  in  tiie  second  period.  If.  may  be  in¬ 
teresting  to  add,  that  the  whole  amount  of  contributions  for  foreign  missions, 
in  sixteen  years,  was  S.i.SGS.OOO,  and  for  home  missions  it  was  $5,88*2,000. 

G.  We  see  in  these  Tables  how  unsatisfactory  are  the  usual  comparisons 
made  between  the  receipts  of  Foreign  and  Home  Missionary  Societies. 
They  are  compared  as  if  the  receipts  of  each  represented  the  whole  action 
in  the  case.  But  foreign  missionary  societies  do  not  receive  all  that  is  con¬ 
tributed  by  the  Christian  community  for  foreign  missions ;  nor  do  home  mis¬ 
sionary  societies  receive  all  that  is  contributed  for  home  missions.  Both  are 
directly  aided  through  Bible  and  Tract  Societies  ;  and  while  all  the  funds  of 
home  missionary  societies  go  for  the  support  of  preachers,  it  inevitably  hap¬ 
pens,  for  want  of  more  division  and  subdivision  in  the  work  of  foreign  mis¬ 
sions,  that  about  one-third  of  the  funds  of  foreign  missionary  societies  are 
required  for  schools,  the  education  of  native  preachers,  and  the  printing  of 
works  not  embraced  in  the  objects  of  Bible  and  Tract  Societies.  In  foreign 
missions,  moreover,  what  is  contributed  by  native  churches  toward  the 
support  of  missionaries,  is  usually  included  in  the  published  accounts  of  the 
foreign  missionary  societies,  and  goes  to  make  up  their  amount.  The  course 
pursued  by  home  missionary  societies  is  deemed  a  proper  one,  and  is  neces¬ 
sarily  ditferent.  Those  generally  furnish  but  a  part  of  the  support  received 
by  home  missionary  pastors,  (whose  relations  correspond  to  those  of  ‘native 
pastors’  in  foreign  missions,)  and  what  is  paid  towards  their  support  by  the 
churches  to  which  they  minister,  is  not  reckoned  among  the  receipts  of  home 
missionary  societies,  and  has  no  place  in  our  Tables.  Besides  all  this,  not 
only  is  the  work  of  supplying  Bibles  and  religious  books  and  tracts  detached 
from  home  missions,  (in  their  restricted,  technical  sense,)  but  also  colportage, 
Sabbatii  schools,  theological  schools,  and  indeed  every  department  of  educa¬ 
tion  ;  not  to  speak  of  missions  in  cities. 

The  only  satisfactory  comparison,  therefore,  to  be  made  in  the  case, — the 
only  one  not  delusive  and  injurious  to  both  branches  of  the  great  cause, — is 
a  comprehensive  one,  resembling  the  one  adopted  in  the  construction  of 
these  Tables.  Such  a  comprehensive  view  presents  the  two  in  their  intimate 
relations — a  vast  benevolent  association  of  labors,  the  glory  and  blessing  of 
our  age. 

7.  The  printed  document  before  usf  contains  some  curious  and  valuable 
facts  derived  from  a  series  of  printed  annual  reports  of  the  Brookfield 
Auxiliary  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  Massachusetts.  That  Auxiliary 
contains  sixteen  churches,  each  having  their  own  male  and  female  mission¬ 
ary  associations,  and  publishing  in  their  reports,  with  few  exceptions,  every 
subscriber’s  name  and  the  amount  of  every  individual  subscription.  From 
these  reports,  tables  have  been  made  out  for  tv/o  periods  of  four  years  each, — 
from  1838  to  1841,  and  from  1847  to  1850.  The  most  valuable  result 


*  X^ble  xxvii.  p.  18. 


t  Tables,  pp.  20  21. 


28 


thus  obtained  is  perhaps  what  may  be  called  the  law  of  increase  in  the  matter 
of  benevolent  subscriptions.  The  results  in  the  second  period  were  as 
follows : 


Subscriptions. 

Uqder  10  cents, 

Number  of 
Subscribers. 

333 

Subscriptions. 

1  to  2  dollars, 

Number  of 
Subscribers. 

.  151 

10  cents, 

315 

2  dollars. 

.  484 

122  cents, 

124  to  25  cents. 

448 

2  to  3  dollars. 

50 

173 

3  dollars. 

.  250 

25  cents, 

25  to  50  cents. 

.  2,343 

3  to  5  dollars. 

52 

133 

5  dollars. 

.  233 

50  cents. 

.  2,088 

5  to  10  dollars. 

63 

50  to  100  cents. 

177 

10  dollars. 

113 

1  doUar, 

.  1,624 

Over  10  dollars. 

83 

The  results  in  the  table  for  the  first  period,  from  1838  to  1841,  prepared 
ten  years  ago,  will  be  found  to  correspond  remarkably  with  those  just  stated 
as  belonging  to  the  second  period. 

The  practical  rule  to  be  deduced  from  this  is,  that  when  we  exhort  the 
friends  of  missions  to  increase  their  subscriptions,  we  need  not  ask  them  to 
double,  nor  to  add  any  certain  percentage  ;  but  simply  to  give  more  than  they 
have  done.  If  the  exhortation  succeeds,  and  they  are  left  to  their  own 
instincts  and  feelings,  they  will  probably  double  their  subscription,  if  they 
have  given  but  twelve  and  a  half,  twenty-five  or  fifty  cents,  or  one  dollar,  or 
five  dollars.  If  they  have  subscribed  two  dollars,  they  may  subscribe  three, 
or  go  on  to  five.  If  ten,  the  advance  will  probably  be  to  fifteen ;  if  fifteen, 
to  twenty  or  twenty-five ;  thence  on  to  seventy-five  or  one  hundred.  Then 
the  rule  goes  to  two  hundred,  three  hundred,  five  hundred,  a  thousand.  And 
when  the  heart  has  become  so  much  enlarged,  you  may  expect  the  advance 
will  be  to  fifteen  hundred,  two  thousand,  five  thousand.  All  of  which,  as  we 
believe,  goes  to  show,  that  the  great  body  of  contributors  do  by  no  means 
calculate  closely  as  to  what  they  are  able  to  give.  A  few  do,  but  not  the 
great  body.  It  is  chiefly  a  matter  of  feeling,  convenience,  habit,  custom, — 
anything  but  real  ability. 

8.  The  facts  embodied  in  this  Statistical  History,  present  to  our  view  the 
MIGHTY  CAUSE  OF  THE  GOSPEL,  advancing  slowly  it  is  true,  but  steadily 
and  surely,  from  year  to  year,  as  if  borne  forward  by  invincible  laws.  Nor 
can  we  help  seeing  that  the  two  great  branches  of  the  enterprise,  besides 
being  most  intimately  united,  do  really  stimulate  and  help  each  other,  and 
that  if  either  one  be  urged  forward,  the  other  will  soon  move  onward  by  its 
side.  Obviously  it  is  time  to  give  our  foreign  missions  a  vigorous  setting 
forward,  since  they  have  now  fallen  somewhat  into  the  rear.  This,  with 
God’s  blessing,  will  be  easily  effected,  if  the  pastors  of  churches,  taking 
courage  from  the  laiv  of  benevolent  donations  just  stated,  shall  simply  urge 
their  people,  now  while  foreign  missions,  relieved  from  embarrassment,  are 
moving  steadily  upon  the  track,  to  add  somewhat  to  the  little  or  much  they 
gave  the  past  year  in  aid  of  this  blessed  cause  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ. 


RESPONSE  OF  THE  BOARD  TO  THE  FOREGOING. 

After  the  reading  of  this  document,  it  was  referred  to  Henry  White, 
Esq.,  Rev.  Joseph  Steele,  Dr.  Linsley,  Horace  Holden,  Esq.,  Rev 


29 


Isaac  R.  Worcester,  Rev.  Oman  Eastman  and  Rev.  Charles  H.  Reed. 
This  Committee  subsequently  presented  the  subjoined  report,  which 
was  adopted  by  the  Board. 


In  considering  this  document  your  committee  have  looked  at  its  object, 
the  means  by  wliich  it  has  been  attempted  to  attain  this  object,  and  the 
results  which  are  spread  out  before  the  Board  in  the  report.  The  object,  as 
defined  in  the  document,  is  to  ascertain  why  the  receipts  of  the  Board  have 
increased  no  faster  during  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years,  and  what  is  the 
prospect  in  future.  This  object  needs  only  to  be  stated  to  make  its  impor¬ 
tance  and  practical  bearings  felt  and  acknowledged. 

In  prosecuting  these  inquiries,  a  statistical  history  of  the  benevolent  con¬ 
tributions  of  those  religious  denominations,  with  which  this  Board  has  some 
immediate  connection,  has  been  prepared.  This  work  your  committee 
regard  as  timely  and  important.  The  contributions  of  these  benevolent 
societies  are  sufficiently  comprehensive,  both  in  extent  of  territory  and  of 
time,  to  be  made  legitimately  the  basis  of  the  calculations  of  the  science  of 
statistics, — that  wonderful  science  of  these  latter  days,  which,  out  of  facts 
the  most  uncertain  and  variable,  deduces  principles  and  conclusions  the  most 
certain  and  unchanging.  It  is  important  to  be  in  possession  of  all  the  light 
which  such  investigations  afford ;  and  the  present  position  of  the  Board,  as 
free  from  debt  and  yet  not  advancing  in  its  receipts  at  the  rate  at  which  it 
once  did,  renders  the  investigation  timely. 

These  inquiries,  so  important  and  timely,  necessarily  involve  a  comparison 
of  the  receipts  of  different  departments  of  the  great  missionary  work ;  and, 
indeed,  thinking  minds  will  be  unavoidably  led  by  such  statistics  to  such 
comparisons.  The  printed  document  accompanying  the  report,  does  not 
profess  to  have  attained  entire  accuracy,  but  offers  itself  as  containing  sug¬ 
gestions  of  some  of  the  principles  which  should  guide  in  such  comparisons. 
Your  committee,  in  the  short  time  alloted  to  them,  are  not  prepared  to  say 
that  improvements  may  not  be  made  in  the  arrangemenf  which  the  printed 
document  makes  of  the  various  societies,  under  the  two  great  heads  of  the 
foreign  missionary  work  and  home  missionary  work.  That  for  the  purposes 
of  a  true  comparison,  some  such  comprehensive  classification,  as  is  there 
attempted,  should  be  made,  seems  to  the  committee  obvious.  Neither  are 
the  committee,  on  the  other  hand,  prepared  to  say  that  the  classification 
made  is  not  correct.  There  are  some  societies,  such  as  the  Education  Soci¬ 
ety,  in  regard  to  the  proper  position  of  which,  whether  as  wholly  a  home 
work,  or  in  part  a  preparation  for  foreign  work,  minds  may  be  expected  to 
differ ;  and  in  regard  to  which,  if  a  classification  of  their  receipts  is  at¬ 
tempted,  there  would  be  great  difficulty  in  finding  the  proper  rule  for  such  a 
division.  If  the  results  of  this  attempt  should  make  a  further  prosecution  of 
these  inquiries  desirable,  the  principles  which  should  guide  in  such  a  class¬ 
ification,  could  be  carefully  reviewed,  and  more  fully  stated. 

Your  committee  have  been  greatly  interested  in  the  results  of  these  in¬ 
quiries,  as  drawn  out  at  length  in  the  report  referred  to  them.  It  is  delightful 
and  encouraging  to  find,  as  a  sure  conclusion,  drawn  from  unquestionable 


so 


data,  that  the  mighty  cause  of  the  gospel  is  advancing  steadily  and  surely. 
Your  committee  are  confident  that  the  two  great  branches  of  the  gospel 
work,  at  home  and  abroad,  are  so  intimately  blended,  that  the  progress  of 
the  one  is  sure  in  the  end  to  secure  also  that  of  the  other.  Fluctuations  in 
progress  have  been  experienced,  and  are  to  be  expected  ;  yet  these  fluctua¬ 
tions  should  not  discourage  us.  The  statistics  presented  show  that  the  great 
cause  is  onward.  The  contributions  to  the  different  American  societies, 
here  brought  to  view,  were  about  $1,500,000  more  during  the  four  years 
ending  in  1851,  than  they  were  during  four  years  ending  in  18:10.  This  is  an 
increase  of  about  sixty-three  per  cent,  upon  the  receipts  of  the  former  period, 
or  in  twelve  years.  At  this  rate  of  increase  the  contributions  of  our 
churches  to  benevolent  objects  will  double  in  less  than  twenty  years.  With 
reference  to  the  single  period  of  four  years  in  which  there  was  a  decline  in 
the  receipts  of  this  Board,  the  statistics  make  it  very  obvious,  that  there  was 
not  a  decline  on  the  whole  in  the  benevolent  efforts  of  the  churches.  Durino* 

O 

that  period  the  receipts  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  of  the  American 
Tract  Society,  and  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  increased 
greatly ;  these  three  societies  together  having  received  in  that  time  about 
$271,000  more  than  during  the  previous  four  years.  Benevolent  contribu¬ 
tions  were  then  increasing ;  and  it  is  believed  that  Christians  were  not 
coming  to  love  the  cause  of  foreign  missions  less,  but,  for  many  reasons, 
were  coming  to  feel  a  deeper  interest  in  various  efforts  for  the  good  of  our 
own  land. 

But  while  God  permits  us,  for  the  strengthening  of  our  faith,  to  see  at 
intervals,  as  it  were,  that  the  movement  of  his  chariot  wheels  is  onward,  yet 
your  committee  would  not  forget  that  such  cheering  views,  vouchsafed  for 
our  refreshment,  are  not  to  be  made  indispensable  to  our  efforts,  or  the 
measure  of  them.  We  have  been  led,  during  this  meeting  of  the  Board,  to 
dwell  much  on  the  leading  rule  and  motive  for  our  missionary  labors.  We 
are  to  walk  in  this  work  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight.  In  the  language  of  the 
report  under  consideration,  it  is  the  Lord’s  work,  based  on  a  special  com¬ 
mand,  a  special  promise,  a  special  providence.  We  must  labor,  therefore, 
each  in  his  lot,  and  with  the  abilities  of  which  he  has  made  us  the 
stev/ards. 

And  in  connection  with  this  thought,  your  committee  would  call  attention 
to  the  result  of  Christian  experience  alluded  to  in  the  report,  as  throwing 
light  upon  and  modifying  the  results  of  our  theoretical  reasoning ;  namely, 
that  there  is  no  real  danger  of  embarrassment  resulting  from  sending  forth 
well  qualified  missionaries,  who  can  show  reason  in  their  own  personal  qual¬ 
ities,  providential  situations,  and  religious  experience,  why  they  ought  to  go. 
It  is  safe  for  them  to  go  ;  it  is  safe  to  send  them.  Still  it  remains  true,  as 
the  report  suggests,  that  the  number  of  such  missionaries  cannot  be  increased 
without  a  corresponding  increase  of  funds  fur  their  support. 

The  statements  of  these  statistical  tables  show  us  that  the  foreign  mission¬ 
ary  work  is  not  advancing  as  rapidly  as  it  should.  It  is  timely  then  to  urge, 
as  the  report  does,  that  we  should  now  give  to  our  foreign  missions  a  vigor¬ 
ous  settintr  forward.  And  while  the  curious  and  interesting  statistics  of  the 
Brookfield  auxiliary,  so  minutely  detailed  in  the  report,  give  us  some  light 


31 


OS  to  the  manner  in  which  the  call  upon  the  churches  can  best  be  made, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  is  highly  important  and  necessary,  that  all  the 
members  of  our  churches  should  now  be  urged  to  add  to  that  which  they 
have  heretofore  been  accustomed  to  give,  that  this  department  of  the  Lord’s 
work  may  not  suffer. 


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